Zaynab: 00:00

Alright, everyone. Get ready because today, we're taking a deep dive into something kinda unexpected.

Yassin: 00:05

Yeah. This time, we're looking at the world of chatbots.

Zaynab: 00:08

Chatbots and, Public health. Okay. Now you're talking.

Yassin: 00:13

And more specifically, can we actually use these things like chatbots?

Zaynab: 00:16

To help people make good decisions.

Yassin: 00:18

Yeah. Smarter health choices without, you know, breaking the bank. Right. Like With limited resources.

Zaynab: 00:24

Exactly. Because not everyone has, you know, tons of money or fancy developers to make these things.

Yassin: 00:29

Yeah. Exactly. And that's what's so cool about this research study we're looking at.

Zaynab: 00:32

Okay.

Yassin: 00:33

They built this chatbot. It's called Vwise.

Zaynab: 00:36

Vwise.

Yassin: 00:37

And it's designed to tackle COVID 19 vaccine misinformation.

Zaynab: 00:41

Okay.

Yassin: 00:42

And they did the whole thing super cheap.

Zaynab: 00:44

Now that's my kind of project.

Yassin: 00:45

Right.

Zaynab: 00:45

So we're talking about a world where, like, anyone could build one of these things

Yassin: 00:49

Yeah.

Zaynab: 00:49

Theoretically. Without needing, you know

Yassin: 00:51

A big tech company behind them.

Zaynab: 00:52

Exactly. So tell me a little more about this vWise thing.

Yassin: 00:56

So picture this. You're scrolling through Facebook or whatever Uh-huh. And this friendly chatbot pops up.

Zaynab: 01:03

Okay.

Yassin: 01:03

Ready to debunk all those COVID vaccine myths you've been hearing?

Zaynab: 01:07

Like, it just appears.

Yassin: 01:09

Yeah. And it's not some expensive custom built software or anything.

Zaynab: 01:13

Right.

Yassin: 01:14

They made it using everyday tools like ManyChat and Facebook Messenger.

Zaynab: 01:19

Okay. So they're meeting people where they already are.

Yassin: 01:21

Exactly.

Zaynab: 01:22

Smart. But how do you make a chatbot on Facebook Messenger, you know Yeah. Persuasive enough to actually change someone's mind?

Yassin: 01:29

Right. Because these are big decisions we're talking

Zaynab: 01:31

about. Like, vaccines are a big deal.

Yassin: 01:33

This is where it gets really interesting. They actually used a technique called motivational interviewing.

Zaynab: 01:38

Motivational interviewing.

Yassin: 01:40

Yeah. It's something doctors use to guide their patients towards, you know

Zaynab: 01:44

Healthier choices.

Yassin: 01:45

Exactly.

Zaynab: 01:45

Okay.

Yassin: 01:46

They basically gave this chatbot therapy skills.

Zaynab: 01:49

Hold on. Wait. They taught a chatbot to be a therapist.

Yassin: 01:51

Well, kind of like a motivational interviewer.

Zaynab: 01:54

Okay. Still, that's next level.

Yassin: 01:55

It's surprisingly effective.

Zaynab: 01:57

Really?

Yassin: 01:58

Instead of just, like, you know, bombarding people with facts and figures.

Zaynab: 02:01

Right. Which never works.

Yassin: 02:03

VWise was designed to, like, ask open ended questions.

Zaynab: 02:07

Uh-huh.

Yassin: 02:07

Understand people's concerns and then gently guide them towards accurate information about vaccines.

Zaynab: 02:14

So it's more like a conversation with someone who's actually listening to you

Yassin: 02:17

Exactly.

Zaynab: 02:18

Than, you know, just a robot spitting out facts.

Yassin: 02:20

Right. It's about building a rapport.

Zaynab: 02:22

Okay. That makes a lot more sense.

Yassin: 02:23

Yeah.

Zaynab: 02:23

It's gotta feel personal. Right?

Yassin: 02:25

Exactly.

Zaynab: 02:25

You know, like a lecture.

Yassin: 02:26

That's the key.

Zaynab: 02:27

Okay. So they've built this empathetic chatbot.

Yassin: 02:30

Uh-huh.

Zaynab: 02:30

But did it actually work?

Yassin: 02:34

That's the $1,000,000 question. Right?

Zaynab: 02:35

Right. Did people actually open up to this thing?

Yassin: 02:38

So they ran a pilot study.

Zaynab: 02:40

Okay.

Yassin: 02:40

33 people. 33 people?

Zaynab: 02:43

That's not a lot of people.

Yassin: 02:44

It's not a huge sample size.

Zaynab: 02:46

Right.

Yassin: 02:46

But the whole point of this, remember Yeah. Was to see if they could do something impactful

Zaynab: 02:51

Right.

Yassin: 02:51

With limited resources.

Zaynab: 02:53

Makes sense. You gotta start somewhere.

Yassin: 02:54

Exactly.

Zaynab: 02:55

Okay. So 33 people, they volunteered to chat with this, vWise. Yeah. What happened?

Yassin: 03:03

So think about it like this.

Zaynab: 03:05

Okay.

Yassin: 03:05

Not everyone who starts talking to a chatbot Right. Actually sticks around.

Zaynab: 03:10

Oh, yeah. I've abandoned plenty of chatbots in my day Exactly. When they're not helping.

Yassin: 03:13

Frustrating.

Zaynab: 03:14

Right. Worse.

Yassin: 03:15

But here's the thing. More than half the participants, 17 people

Zaynab: 03:20

17 out of 33.

Yassin: 03:22

Stuck with it Wow. All the way to the end.

Zaynab: 03:24

They actually completed the whole chat.

Yassin: 03:26

Yeah.

Zaynab: 03:26

Wow. So they were finding it useful.

Yassin: 03:28

It seems like take. Definitely more engaging than your average, like, customer service chat bot.

Zaynab: 03:33

For sure.

Yassin: 03:35

And get this.

Zaynab: 03:35

Okay.

Yassin: 03:36

Twelve people liked it so much.

Zaynab: 03:38

Twelve people?

Yassin: 03:39

They went back for a second chat.

Zaynab: 03:41

No way.

Yassin: 03:41

Yeah. They gave it glowing reviews.

Zaynab: 03:43

What? Like, what were they saying?

Yassin: 03:45

They said it was easy to use Okay. Explain things clearly.

Zaynab: 03:49

Mhmm.

Yassin: 03:49

And it had a surprisingly realistic personality.

Zaynab: 03:52

Okay. A chatbot with a personality, I'm intrigued.

Yassin: 03:55

Right.

Zaynab: 03:56

But let's be real here. Did it actually work?

Yassin: 04:00

What do you mean?

Zaynab: 04:01

Did chatting with vWise actually change anyone's mind about vaccines?

Yassin: 04:05

Okay. That's a real question, isn't it?

Zaynab: 04:07

That's the $1,000,000 question.

Yassin: 04:08

Right. Because we have to remember

Zaynab: 04:09

Yeah.

Yassin: 04:10

This chatbot wasn't some kind of super intelligent AI

Zaynab: 04:14

Right.

Yassin: 04:15

Debating the finer points of vaccine science.

Zaynab: 04:17

Right. It wasn't like a debate champion. It wasn't like a debate champion or anything.

Yassin: 04:20

Exactly. More like a friendly guide.

Zaynab: 04:22

Right.

Yassin: 04:23

But here's the thing. Even without being able to have these, like, super complex arguments Yeah. V wise still got people thinking differently.

Zaynab: 04:33

Really? Like, how

Yassin: 04:34

So some people who started the chat feeling hesitant about vaccines

Zaynab: 04:39

Mhmm.

Yassin: 04:40

Actually said things like K. This makes me feel more confident about taking the vaccine. Wow. Or it's good to be informed. Now I understand what mRNA even means.

Zaynab: 04:49

So it's like planting these seeds. Right?

Yassin: 04:51

Like, they might not be ready to go get vaccinated right that second. Right. But it's making them think about it differently.

Zaynab: 04:57

Exactly.

Yassin: 04:57

And that's a big deal.

Zaynab: 04:58

That's huge.

Yassin: 04:59

Because this study is challenging this assumption. Right? Yeah. That only these really advanced expensive AI systems can make a difference.

Zaynab: 05:08

Like, we don't need to wait for some supercomputer.

Yassin: 05:10

Exactly. Sometimes a simple well designed chatbot

Zaynab: 05:14

Especially one that's empathetic.

Yassin: 05:16

Yes. Exactly. That's key.

Zaynab: 05:17

Can make a real impact.

Yassin: 05:19

Absolutely.

Zaynab: 05:20

This is really cool. I love it.

Yassin: 05:21

It opens up so many possibilities. Right? Yeah. Imagine a world where everyone has access to these kinds of chatbots

Zaynab: 05:28

Like readily available health information

Yassin: 05:31

Whenever they need it.

Zaynab: 05:32

Without having to go, like, book a doctor's appointment.

Yassin: 05:34

Exactly. It could really change things.

Zaynab: 05:36

That's the future of public health right there.

Yassin: 05:38

It just might be.

Zaynab: 05:39

And you don't even need to be, like, a tech genius to make it happen. Right? That's the best part. This research shows that anyone can create something impactful.

Yassin: 05:48

With the right tools and a little creativity.

Zaynab: 05:51

So the next time you hear someone say that, like, tackling misinformation is just too hard Yeah. Remember ViewWise.

Yassin: 05:58

Exactly.

Zaynab: 05:58

It proves that even a simple chatbot can make a real difference.

Yassin: 06:02

A well designed one, of course.

Zaynab: 06:03

Of course.

Yassin: 06:04

But, yeah, that's the takeaway here.

Zaynab: 06:05

So maybe this deep dive will inspire someone out there listening to build the next fee wise.

Yassin: 06:11

That's what we're hoping for.

Zaynab: 06:12

What health issue were you passionate about? Could a chatbot be the answer?

Yassin: 06:16

Think about it.

Zaynab: 06:17

Until next time. Keep asking questions, keep diving deep, and keep learning.